Strange Encounter

As I opened the front door to my house, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I had emerged from the ancient dungeon unscathed, but my mind was still grappling with the strange encounter. Was it a dream? The mark on my wrist said otherwise. The gently curved blade etched onto my skin was as real as the air I breathed, its black hue pointing upwards to my very hands. I murmured to myself, "Strange."

My parents welcomed me home, and my father greeted me with a warm smile. "What adventure did you go on today, Jin?"

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal the truth about my dangerous excursion to the dungeon. "Nothing much," I said casually, "I just killed a few monsters and tested out some new techniques on them."

I wished I could tell my parents the truth, but I knew they would never allow me to venture into such perilous places. I just wanted to assure them that I was safe.

"My son is already learning new swordsmanship techniques," my father remarked proudly. "Shall we have our ever-so-fated duel that you wish for?"

"Not today, Father," I said, "It's too dark for us to duel."

"Maybe next time then," he said, his smile never faltering.

I suddenly remembered that I had not told my parents about my newfound knowledge of magic. I hoped they wouldn't hire an instructor to teach me the basics, as I had already been taught by Ezekiel.

"Jin, your father and I have an important topic to discuss with you," my mother said. "It's about your future. Your father suggests that you join an adventuring organization that will guide you on how to be a professional adventurer, but I suggest that you attend an academy to further enhance your understanding of magic and the structures of our world. The choice is yours."

I weighed my options. I loved adventuring, but I had promised Ezekiel that we would one day see who was stronger. I was confident I could be an adventurer and attend school simultaneously, killing two birds with one stone.

"I think it's best for me to attend an academy, Mum," I said, making my decision.

My father's expression fell, and his proud smile disappeared. "But, Ji-"

"He's made his decision, honey," my mother said firmly. "He will be attending school."

My father's frustration was palpable, and he muttered under his breath, "I can't believe it."

He then presented me with a sheet of paper, listing several academies around the country.

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Academy:

1. Lilith's Magic Academy

2. Newford School of Spells

3. Skylines Fine Arts Academy

4. Northview's Arcane Magic

5. Oakland's Trinity Academy

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As I gazed down at the sheet in front of me, disappointment swept over me like a wave crashing onto the shore. The academies listed were not what I had hoped for, but I couldn't bear to disappoint my mother by voicing my discontent.

"It's a bit overwhelming to decide right now," I managed to say, attempting to keep my voice steady. "Maybe in a few years, I can choose which one I'll attend."

My mother gave a small nod, a look of understanding crossing her features. "Of course, Jin. Take your time. We've also hired an instructor to help discover your aptitude for magic. They'll arrive within the week, so make sure to be prepared for their arrival."

Her words hit me like a sharp blade to the chest, causing me to gasp in surprise. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had never expected this level of commitment from my mother. As I struggled to process the news, a sense of dread began to bubble up within me.

"Are you serious right now?" I stammered, trying to compose myself.

My mother's eyes glinted with amusement at my reaction. "Yes, Jin. I'm serious. But for now, it's time for you to go to bed. We'll talk more tomorrow."

With a resigned sigh, I trudged upstairs, my thoughts still reeling from the day's events. As I entered my room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort upon seeing Inzaghi nestled up in his little oasis. I had built him a small room in my closet, using the leftover fur from my hunting expeditions.

The following morning, I woke up before sunrise, as I always did. I went through my daily routine, preparing my gear for the day ahead. But as I reached for my sword, the realization hit me that it was lost in the main dungeon. A pang of sadness washed over me as I realized how much it meant to me.

Determined not to let it ruin my day, I decided to take Inzaghi for a stroll in the village. As we walked, I held him in my arms, feeling his warmth against my skin. When we reached the forest, the sky was still dark, but I could see the stars beginning to fade as the sun slowly rose over the horizon.

Inzaghi and I basked in the ethereal beauty of the sunrise, watching as the stars slowly faded into the celestial backdrop. Yet, as if on cue, my companion's primal instincts kicked in, and he took off into the forest, breathing his fiery breath with abandon.

"GARHHHHH!" Inzaghi's enthusiastic growl resonated throughout the forest as he ignited a pile of sticks and began to leap with joy.

Inspiration struck me in that moment, and I decided to utilize my companion's impressive abilities. "Inzaghi, come here," I called, and he came running at breakneck speed, sitting obediently before me.

"We're going to play a game, Inzaghi," I said, smiling. "It's called 'Burn the Stick,' and for every stick you ignite or reduce to ash, I will reward you with fruits and fish."

"MRAWWWWW!" Inzaghi eagerly accepted my offer, jumping and breathing fire with newfound strength. It was evident that he had grown quickly, as his flames had expanded both in range and intensity.

Inzaghi trained hard to incinerate every stick that I threw towards him, and his skill only grew with each passing moment. At first, he could only ignite one stick at a time, but soon he was able to reduce entire piles to ash in a single breath. This progression was particularly encouraging, as it indicated that Inzaghi's ability to breathe fire was improving significantly.

However, as the blue flames within his body dwindled, I realized that Inzaghi was running low on mana. It was time to return home, where he could recharge and rest. With a sense of pride and accomplishment, I led Inzaghi back to our abode.

As I made my way back home, a murmur of excitement rippled through the town. Apparently, a visitor of great importance had arrived at our village resort and had caused quite a stir. Initially, I paid little heed to the commotion, but as I approached, I realized that the unexpected arrival had created a problem.

Villagers were clustered around a stranded carriage, its wheels encrusted with icicles. The sight was curious indeed, as it was still early spring and ice should not have formed so suddenly. Could the carriage have been attacked?

As I drew closer to the crowd, my attention was caught by a tall man, elegantly dressed in black formal attire, who was speaking to some of the villagers near the coastal lines of the forest. From the deferential manner in which the locals interacted with him, it was apparent that he was a person of great importance. But it was the carriage itself that intrigued me the most, for I could sense a fluctuating wave of mana emanating from within, creating a frigid breeze that put our winter season to shame.

At that moment, the leader of our village arrived, and it was clear that he too was intimidated by the man in black. Nevertheless, they exchanged greetings, and I eavesdropped on their conversation with interest.

"We've come to an abrupt stop at your village, please forgive us for asking, but are there spare wheels that are ice proof? I must escort a special person back to the kingdom of Askana," the man in black bowed his head in apology.

"Well, certainly. I'll go get them right now. I am the village's blacksmith as well, but it will take a bit since the wheels I'm going to make are going to be enchanted."

"Let me assist you in the enchanting process, as I need to get my special guest to the kingdom as soon as possible."

"Very well then, come with me. My smithing house is just over here, and will your special escort be okay?"

"Yes, they will be fine since no one can get close to them anyway."

It was then that I realized that my enhanced hearing ability could be of use. Inzaghi, my loyal companion and silent observer, sensed my growing agitation.

Suddenly, the wind picked up, carrying traces of mana with it. It seemed to be emanating from the carriage itself. The chill in the air intensified, and I knew that danger was near.

A thread of ice-cold strings appeared before me, urging me to approach the carriage. This was a strange ability that I possessed, but it had always served me well in the past.

Pushing my way through the crowd, I closed the distance between myself and the carriage. As I drew closer, the density of the air grew colder. Enclosed on the thread of frozen ice, the strings began to slowly tear and ripple. I heard cries of alarm from the villagers, who warned me to stay away from the carriage. But something told me that I had to get closer, that something bad was going to happen.

Ignoring the warnings, I pressed on, determined to discover the cause of this.

I placed my hand on the cold doorknob, feeling a shiver run through my body. The anticipation was palpable as I pushed the door open, revealing a sight that left me breathless. There she sat, a mystery cloaked in shadows, but radiating an aura of otherworldly beauty. I couldn't see her face, but my heart told me that she was the same age as me.

As my eyes adjusted to the frozen room, I noticed the ice still lingering in front of me. But it was her - the girl with the veil - who held my attention. Her hair, a luxuriant shade of purple, was the epitome of beauty. The strand around her was frozen, but she was not cold. Instead, she shivered, her hands clutched together in a silent plea for comfort.

Without a second thought, I removed my gloves and held her hands, hoping to provide some warmth. As our hands touched, the chill dissipated, and her shivers subsided. I couldn't help but wonder if she was scared, but as she looked up at me, I knew that I had nothing to fear. My mother always held my hand when I was scared, so perhaps it was the same for her.

Slowly as I felt her soft hand slip away from mine, I realized that I had been holding it for far too long. But as I let go, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about her. It was like a magnetic force that drew me towards her, and I found myself completely captivated.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice low and gentle as I looked deep into her eyes.

She appeared to snap out of a trance and looked at me with a bewildered expression. "Huh? What happened?" she asked, her voice sweet like honey.

I released her hand slowly, savouring the warmth of her touch for a moment longer. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay," I said, my eyes lingering on her soft features.

"Yes... but who are you?" she asked, looking at me curiously.

I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. "Me? I'm just an adventure boy you know."

She snorted, a slight smirk peeking out from under her veil. "That sounds absurd for someone as young as you."

I retorted playfully, "Speak for yourself. You look like you're the same age as me, you dummy."

I couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or truthful, but the way she spoke sounded cold and odd. For a moment, I wondered what kind of person she was.

"You don't know who I am?" she asked, surprised at my answer.

"Well, of course not," I replied, my eyes widening in confusion.

She studied me intently for a moment as if trying to decipher something about me. "well I can't tell my name to a boy I had foolishly met?" she said having a slight chuckle after her response to mine

"Please tell me your name first then oh adventure boy" I could see her bright smile through the veil.

But Before I could answer, a sudden force pulled me in the opposite direction with a crushing weight that left me breathless. With a blur of motion, I was thrown out of the carriage and sent hurtling into a tree, the impact jolting me back to reality. As I lay there dazed, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of power had knocked me out so effortlessly. But at that moment, all i could think of was her.

The man in black's words echoed in my mind as I stood there, paralyzed with fear. "Strange... Even my mana sense couldn't detect your mana. You're an odd one."

I had heard tales of powerful mages who could mask their mana signature, but to encounter one was rare indeed. The man's mana was unlike anything I had ever felt before; its structure and utilization were beyond anything I could comprehend. The way he poured his mana into a certain part of his body to inflict devastating damage was a technique that I had never seen before.

As I struggled to regain my footing, I watched as the man in black turned his attention to the girl in the veil. "Lady Sana, are you alright? Did that boy hurt you anywhere?" he asked with concern.

Lady Sana's reply was short and simple: "No."

The man in black seemed satisfied with her answer and quickly made plans to leave. "Well, we shall be going back to the kingdom. That man over there will repair our carriage," he said dismissively.

As I watched the Village Leader repair their carriage I felt a sense of disappointment wash over me as I watched them depart. I hadn't even had the chance to tell her my name. Was it all for nothing?

With great effort, I picked myself up off the ground and watched as the carriage disappeared from view. As I glanced back at her or 'Sana', I could feel her cold stare bore into me. There was something off about her, something familiar that I couldn't quite place.

As I pondered this strange encounter, I couldn't help but wonder if She was one of the people Zeke had warned me about. Her importance was undeniable, and the feeling of deja vu that surrounded her only added to the mystery.

I could feel Inzaghi squirming in my coat, but I was relieved to see that he emerged from that forceful attack unscathed. With a sigh, I turned and made my way back to the house, lost in thought.

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As the years flew by in a flash, I found myself transformed from a young child to a 12-year-old boy, honing my skills in swordsmanship and magic with my trusted companion, Inzaghi the dragon. Together, we trained endlessly in the forest, striving to attain perfection in form, technique, and physique.

Inzaghi proved to be a most dedicated and loyal companion. I trained him to utilize skills beyond his fiery breath, such as creating wind slashes with his razor-sharp claws and leveraging his wings for an aerial advantage in battles.

While reminiscing about my earlier years, I couldn't help but wonder what Ezekiel, my long-lost friend, was up to now. The sword that I had found during my journey still remained by my side, dormant and awaiting my call. I yearned for the day when I would finally discover how to awaken its power and wield it once again.

Throughout the years, I encountered countless bad guys during my training, many of whom were members of nefarious organizations. While others were unfamiliar to me, I dispatched them with ease, often leaving them unconscious until the authorities arrived to detain them.

With each encounter, I refined my skills in swordsmanship and magic, discovering new spells and techniques to hone my edge. In time, I became so skilled that I could defeat my foes with a single stroke of my sword or a solitary cast of a spell.

Of course, the life of an adventurer can be quite mundane at times, and there were days when my hunting expeditions came up empty-handed. Nonetheless, I remained vigilant, spending hours perched on the edge of a tree, waiting for the next challenge to come my way. Despite my patience, the usual routes of travel remained eerily quiet, devoid of any signs of life.

But as an adventurer, I knew that peace was fleeting, and that danger lurked around every corner. It was only a matter of time before the next challenge presented itself, and I remained ready for whatever lay ahead.